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A Painful Life Sentence: Hundreds of Thousands Abused as Children in Care

Senator Andrew Murray
Democrats Senator for Western Australia

24 August 2004 - With the third of three major inquiries into institutionalised children due to report on Monday 30 August, Australian Democrat Senator Andrew Murray, who initiated the latest Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care, said today that the Committee has taken graphic and disturbing evidence that has revealed a litany of abuse, criminal assaults and general neglect that was widespread across government, charitable and religious institutions across all States.

"Tragic, sad and heart-rending tales of abuse and neglect have come from individuals who are still in pain 40 and 50 years later" said Senator Murray.

The Inquiry targeted those non-indigenous and non-foreign state wards and home children not covered by the 1997 indigenous 'stolen generation' and the 2001 child migrant inquiries and reports.

"Together with the 'stolen generation' and child migrants, ball-park figures suggest that more than 500,000 people experienced out-of-home care in Australia last century.

"Add to this, those also harmed in families and schools and there must be a staggering number of adult Australians who have had their lives detrimentally affected by bad childhood experiences.

"A harmed child often results in a harmed adult.

"Extensive research now clearly shows that a significant proportion of harmed children can and do descend as adults into homelessness, welfare dependency, failed or dysfunctional relationships, substance abuse, crime and suicide. For instance, a majority of those in prison were assaulted as children.

"Notably, these social costs are accompanied by immense economic costs that are an enormous drain on the public purse, recently and conservatively estimated to be close on $2 billion annually.

"The Australian Democrats are hopeful that the Committees Report to be brought down next week, will have a major effect in addressing the harm exposed by the Report," concluded Senator Murray.

Source: Australian Democrats

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